Council Seeks Nominations for Hart Fellowship

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is pleased to invite nominations for the Hart Fellowship, a unique opportunity for an exceptional rising leader from Latin America to spend one year in Chicago. By strengthening the Fellow's global affairs and foreign policy knowledge, leadership skills, and networks, the opportunity aims to extend and deepen the Fellow’s potential to have positive civic impact.

"Global leadership requires engagement across sectors, expertise, backgrounds—and borders. By inviting an exceptional rising leader from Latin America to join our intellectual community, the Hart Fellowship promises to enrich not only the Emerging Leaders Program but also the Council and the city of Chicago," said Dr. Ariel Schwartz, executive director of the Council's global leadership programs. "Now more than ever, we need to foster civic leadership and partnership across the Americas."

About the Fellowship

The Hart Fellowship supports the global leadership development of an accomplished, ambitious, globally curious mid-career (age 30-45) citizen from one of a select number of Latin American states who is committed to having a positive impact on issues of international development, global affairs, and foreign policy. The opportunity aims to enhance the Fellow's individual knowledge and skills and strengthens connections between Latin America and Chicago.

The Hart Fellow will:

• Refine their knowledge of global affairs and US foreign policy.
• Advance their leadership skills through collaboration with the Global Leadership Programs team and the Lester Crown Center on US Foreign Policy.
• Build deep relationships with the Council’s Emerging Leaders Program and the broader Council community.
• Strengthen ties between their country of residence and Chicago.

The Hart Fellowship provides a $50,000 stipend plus benefits and $5,000 in research and relocation funds, as well as costs related to the annual Emerging Leaders study trip to Washington, DC. The Hart Fellow will be an integral part of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and its networks, including and especially the robust Emerging Leaders community. 

Fellowship Activities

The Hart Fellow will engage widely as a speaker, collaborator, and connector within the Council community. 

The fellow will:

• Live in Chicago and work at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs from January 20-December 11, 2026.
• Participate fully in the Council’s premier global leadership development program, the Emerging Leaders Program.
• Research and write two short pieces and one longer-form piece on a global affairs topic, that is both relevant and important.
• Help shape global leadership development opportunities at the Council.

Eligibility & Selection

Candidates should be:

• Citizens of a Latin American country—please note: in its inaugural year (2026), candidates should be citizens of Chile, Brazil, or Argentina.
• Between the ages of 30 and 45.
• A mid-career professional, from any of the following fields: business, academia, NGO, government, civil society, or the media.

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Significant professional achievements and civic engagement.
• Strong cross-cultural fluency and global curiosity.
• A proposed timely research area relevant to Latin America and global affairs. We have a special interest in proposals that focus on one of the following: Geoeconomics, North America (trade, border security, and immigration), Food Security, China and Latin America, Multilateralism.
• Readiness to both contribute to and benefit from a year-long residency in Chicago.

Council leadership, in partnership with the Lansing Hart family, will oversee selection to ensure alignment with the fellowship’s vision and the Council’s strategic priorities.

Nomination Process

Nominations are due by September 30, and nominees should prepare to submit their materials no later than October 15. 

Nominators should submit the following via this form:

• The nominator’s information
• The nominee’s information
• A formal letter outlining the nominee’s qualifications and reasons they should be considered for the fellowship 

Nominees will receive an email invitation to submit the following:

• A resume
• A statement of interest in the fellowship
• A short research proposal of not more than 700 words
• Three references

About the Council

A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Council was founded in 1922 and is dedicated to increasing knowledge and engagement in global affairs. Our in-depth analysis and expert-led research influence policy conversations and inform the insights we share with our growing community. Through accessible content and open dialogue of diverse, fact-based perspectives, we empower more people to help shape our global future. Learn more at globalaffairs.org.